Reply #19: Congratulations [View All]

Eighth amendment? I assume you are referring to a case of cruel and unusual punishment rather than the less common cases involving excessive bail or fines?

I congratulate you on soon being able to pursue your ideal goals full-time. I realize that you have sacrificed to do so.

I wholeheartedly agree that we need to begin thinking in a more "out-of-the-box" fashion and that we have grown too dependent on corporations. I also agree that we would be wise to support those who support our cause and are a part of it. Churches have done that for decades - often printing business directories to share among their members.

While I have taken and passed two bar exams and maintain those two state bar licenses, my legal knowledge is primarily academic. My work experience and training is financial and managerial in nature rather than legal. In the two years before I was laid-off I was responsible for managing over $800 million in various investment securities - that would include equity and bond selection, portfolio modeling and trading. Prior to that I worked in a managing general insurance agency superivising claim litigation and claim adjusters in a multi state area, filing with state agencies for various rate and form changes, responding to and resolving all complaints regarding the company, coordinating all communications with various auditors, and preparing various reinsurance accounting records and reports.

Frankly, I do not miss corporate America. And I would really prefer to work independently - something that is becoming increasingly difficult to do in all industries because the barriers to entry are rising and because those who work independently do not benefit from economies of scale.

Perhaps I am not objective but I think that ultimately my skills are analyzing challenges and communicating and implementing solutions. Something that can be done much cheaper by workers in India and China. I am a single, middle age woman in reasonably good health who should expect to be able to work for another 20 to 25 years if I so desire. Relocating to foreign soil to find suitable employment is, as far as I'm concerned, a one way ticket. It is not my preference but given the fact that I am reasonably well educated I feel it is an option I must consider. The social, economic and political trends evident in this country suggest that my earning ability here has significantly - and probably permanently - diminished. If I really want to stay here in the United States I would probably be well advised to go to welding school (or something similar - maybe bartending school) and learn a trade. Sh*t can the education - in terms of my earning capacity it is not worth the paper it is printed on. There are no good alternatives.